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Thoughts From The National Water & Wastewater Conference

The Canadian Water and Wastewater Association hosted their third National Water and Wastewater Conference in St. Johns, NFLD recently. The conference brings together all aspects of water management - from wastewater, drinking water, research and emerging infrastructure challenges.

What is unique about the conference is that fosters dialogue on the most important national water infrastructure issues. CIPH members commonly supply components that make up this critical infrastructure (pumps, pipe, valves, etc.) which is why it is important for the association to participate.

Also included in the conversation are the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, provincial and territorial policy makers, leaders from the American Water Works Association and federal government agencies such as Environment Canada, Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada and the National Research Council.

CIPH has a history of working productively with these organizations, collaborating with these stakeholders to make recommendations, actions and activities. The changes our industry is facing reach further than plumbing and heating. They encompass challenges we will address through infrastructure resilience, water conservation, energy efficiency, climate change adaption and even NetZero building design.

Some of the most interesting dialogue came from the fact that we need to view infrastructure renewal in a different way. NetZero ready buildings, energy recovery, decentralized infrastructure delivery systems, lead, legionella concerns, and even potential electric car stresses on the grid are factors and face with these looming changes we need more innovation and forward looking policy.

This is an opportunity for the members as CIPH supply products and systems for water treatment plants, was distribution systems, pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants. Members know the emerging products and technologies that can do it better, the challenge is getting in front of the right stakeholders and beginning the conversation.

This was an opportunity to do so and we have to continue to engage them to show them that our industry has the solutions to help.